AU676475B2

AU676475B2 - Jet operated inflatable rescue boat (soft bottom)

Info

Publication number: AU676475B2
Application number: AU42174/93A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Robert Francis McClelland; David Alun Williams
Original assignee: Keidon Holding Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Keidon Holding Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1992-07-27
Filing date: 1993-07-26
Publication date: 1997-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 2013-07-26
Also published as: AU4217493A

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT JET OPERATED INFLATABLE RESCUE BOAT (SOFT BOTTOM) The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 5 This invention relates to inflatable rescue boats, particularly of the kind used for surf rescue.

Such boats are conventionally powered by outboard motors. While the propeller is provided with a guard 1 0 to prevent contact with the propeller blades, injuries Scan still be caused by the leg and propeller A oeioe further disadvantage of such boats is that the configuration of the outboard motor is such that when :i the craft rolls over the motor is immersed and usually 15 becomes unserviceable.

The substitution of a jet pump motor for the conventional outboard has the potential of overcoming these problems, by eliminating the projecting leg and propeller, and also enabling the motor to be protected against immersion when the boat rolls over. The present invention is directed to providing an approach to the way in which such a propulsion system can be employed in an inflatable rescue boat.

The invention is defined in the claims. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of Sexample.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevation of an inflatable rescue boat incorporating the invention; and Fig. 2 illustrates the rear hull portion and transom unit of the boat illustrated in Fig. 1.

The boat illustrated in Fig. 1 conventionally comprises a pair of inflatable pontoons 11 on each side of a fabric hull 12, provided with an internal floor 13 which is removable for folding and transport or stowage of the deflated hull. Between the floor and the fabric hull there is normally provided an inflatable keel (not shown).

*soe.

15 In the conventional construction of such a boat, a rigid transom is mounted between the pontoons 11, and carries an outboard motor. The transom is fixed to *the rear of the fabric hull 12.

e In accordance with the present invention, by contrast, the fabric hull 12 ends at a point forward of the transom, and is replaced by a rigid member 14 which, oooe• S"as shown in Fig. 2, consists of a hull portion 15 and e i a transom 16, moulded from fibre-reinforced plastics.

The rigid member is married into the fabric hull, for example by gluing.

In the illustrated embodiment, the jet propulsion unit 17, which comprises a water inlet and a jet pump and outlet, is driven by an engine 18 through a gear box 19. As seen in Fig. 1, the engine and gear box are mounted in the rigid hull region, while the jet pump unit is mounted aft of the transom.

Preferably, the engine is mounted within a box, not shown, which is attached to the member 14. More preferably, the jet propulsion unit 17 is also attached to this box or enclosure, and the aperture in the member 14 is dimensioned to allow the box to be attached and removed with the jet propulsion unit attached.

The use of an enclosure for the engine reduces the likelihood of the engine filling with water should the craft be rolled.

Details of the construction of the boat may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

C

Claims

2. A boat according to claim 1 in which the engine is mounted within an enclosure. V.. A boat according to claim 2 in which the 15 enclosure, with the engine in it, is removable from the hull.
4. A boat according to claim 2 or claim 3 in which the jet pump is mounted in said enclosure. A boat according to any preceding claim including a water intake for said jet pump, at least part of the S"water intake forming part of the rigid portion of the hull.
6. A boat according to claim 3 in which part of said enclosure forms a part of said rigid portion.
7. A boat according to claim 6 in which part of said enclosure forms part of the transom.
8. A boat according to any of claims 2 to 7 in which said rigid portion includes a hull member and a transom at the rear of said hull member, an aperture 355 being provided in the hull member and the transom to receive said enclosure.
9. A boat according to any preceding claim in which the inflatable portion of the hull is of fabric, and includes inflatable pontoons, the inflatable portion of the hull being provided with an internal floor. An inflatable rescue boat substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 21st day of January 1997 ROBERT FRANCIS McCLELLAND Patent Attorneys for the Applicant HALFORD CO. no. *e C